Sonics reportedly courting Westhead

Published 10:00 pm, Monday, September 17, 2007

Paul Westhead, who recently led the Phoenix Mercury to its first WNBA title, is considering an offer to become a Sonics assistant coach, according to a published report.

Westhead told The Arizona Republic on Sunday that the Sonics approached him several weeks ago about joining coach P.J. Carlesimo's staff. A friend of the Sonics coach for 30 years, Westhead told the Republic that he had informed the Mercury of the offer and would reach a decision sometime this week.

The Sonics did not return phone messages Monday.

In his second season with the club, Westhead, a former NBA and college coach with more than three decades of experience, and known for an up-tempo, high-scoring offensive style, led the Mercury to a road victory over the defending champion Detroit Shock in the decisive fifth game of the WNBA Finals on Sunday.

Westhead's previous stints as a head coach included stops with the Los Angeles Lakers (where we won a championship), Bulls and Nuggets in the NBA, and at La Salle and Loyola Marymount in the college ranks.